XN000022-1985-12-04 — Page 44

WNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1985

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SERVICES TO HANDLE FAMILY PROBLEMS SATISFACTORY

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THERE ARE 22 FAMILY SERVICE CENTRES RUN BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND 23 BY VOLUNTARY AGENCIES WHICH OFFER COUNSELLING AND OTHER FORMS OF ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES WITH PROBLEMS SUCH AS MARITAL BREAKDOWNS. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL THE HON MICHAEL THOMAS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

ANSWERING A QUESTION BY THE HON TAI CHIN-WAH, MR THOMAS SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS, ON THE WHOLE, SATISFIED WITH THE PRESENT PROVISION OF COUNSELLING SERVICES AND HAD NO PLAN TO SET UP AN ADVISORY BODY SPECIALLY TO DEAL WITH SUCH PROBLEMS.

HE SAID THAT THE MATRIMONIAL CAUSES RULES REQUIED THE PETITIONER'S SOLICITOR IN DIVORCE CASES TO CERTIFY TO THE COURT WHETHER OR NOT HE HAD DISCUSSED WITH HIS CLIENT THE POSSIBILITY OF A RECONCILIATION AND GIVEN HIS CLIENT THE NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF PERSONS QUAL IF IED TO ASSIST IN RECONCILIATION.

+THIS UNDERLINES WHAT I TAKE TO BE GOOD PRACTICE ON THE PART OF SOLICITORS IN HONG KONG, MR THOMAS SAID, AND I AM ASSURED THAT IN THE LEGAL AID DEPARTMENT AT LEAST THE PROSPECTS OF RECONCILIATION ARE ALWAYS DISCUSSED WITH PETITIONERS,+

DURING THE FIVE-YEAR PERIOD ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1984 THE NUMBER OF LEGAL AID CERTIFICATES ISSUED FOR MATRIMONIAL CASES, · INCLUDING DIVORCE AND OTHER FAMILY RELATED PROCEEDINGS, WAS 8 453.

THE CORRESPONDING FIGURE FOR OTHER CIVIL CASES WAS 17 246, MR THOMAS SAID.

MOVE TO STUDY FUTURE WAR MEMORIAL FUND NEEDS

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A MOTION TO APPOINT A SELECT COMMITTEE TO MAKE AN INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT OF THE FUTURE ARRANGEMENTS OF THE HONG KONG WAR MEMORIAL FUND WAS MOVED BY THE HON JOHN SWAINE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

INTRODUCING THE MOTION, HE RECALLED THAT THE FUND WAS ESTABLISHED BY ORDINANCE IN 1947 TO ENSURE THAT ALL WHO SERVED IN DEFENCE OF HONG KONG DURING THE LAST WAR, INCLUDING THOSE WHO BECAME PRISONERS OF WAR AND WHO WERE INCAPACITATED AND IN NEED WOULD BE ADEQUATELY PROVIDED FOR. ASSISTANCE WAS ALSO PROVIDED TO THE IR DEPENDANTS.

+THE FUND IS ADMINISTERED BY A STATUTORY COMMITTEE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR AND COMPRISES RESPECTED SENIOR MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WHO HAD WAR EXPERIENCE IN HONG KONG OR ELSEWHERE PLUS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, HE SAID.

/DUE TO